Psoriasis Specialist

Advanced Dermatology Surgery Center

Dermatologist & Medical Aesthetics located in Fresno, CA

About 7.5 million people in the United States suffer from psoriasis, dealing with reddish, itchy patches of skin that can occur just about anywhere. At Advanced Dermatology Surgery Center, Dr. Jane Kardashian uses a patient-centered approach, offering custom treatment solutions to help patients in and around Fresno, California relieve psoriasis symptoms and reduce or prevent flare-ups. If you have psoriasis or if you have psoriasis symptoms, call Advanced Dermatology Surgery Center or use our online system to schedule an office visit today.

Psoriasis Q & A

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that develops when your skin replenishes itself too rapidly. In healthy skin, it takes about 4 weeks for a new skin cell to migrate from the bottom layers of skin to the top layers, where it will eventually be shed to make way for another new cell. With psoriasis, that process is sped up, and the entire migration process takes just a few days -- far faster than your skin cells are being shed. As a result, the new cells build up on the skin surface, forming raised, scaly patches called plaques. Plaques can form just about anywhere on your body, and they usually occur bilaterally -- that is, on both knees or both elbows.

What causes psoriasis?

Researchers haven’t identified the cause of psoriasis, but they believe genetics and immune system issues play a role, causing your skin to renew itself more rapidly than normal.

How can I tell if I have psoriasis?

Plaques of scaly, pinkish or silvery skin are the most common symptoms of psoriasis, but other symptoms include:

Itching in the affected areas of skin

Crusting over of your skin, especially in the scalp

Bleeding when affected areas are scratched or rubbed vigorously

Discoloration or pitting in your fingernails

Tenderness or swelling in your joints (psoriatic arthritis affects about 40% of people with psoriasis)

Symptoms of psoriasis tend to become worse during “flare-ups,” which occur as a result of specific triggers, like stress.

Is psoriasis contagious?

No, you can’t “catch” psoriasis, nor can you pass it on to someone else, even with skin-to-skin contact.

How does Dr. Kardashian diagnose psoriasis?

In most cases, psoriasis can be diagnosed through a visual exam of your skin and a review of your medical history and symptoms. In a few cases, a very small skin scraping is taken for further evaluation in a lab to rule out other possible issues that cause similar symptoms.

How is psoriasis treated?

Although there’s no cure for psoriasis, Dr. Kardashian can help you manage your symptoms for a more comfortable life and to improve the way your skin looks. Your treatment will be customized for your needs and can include topical lotions, creams, ointments, gels, oral medications, or even phototherapy, which uses controlled applications of light to treat affected areas of your skin. Since psoriasis is a chronic condition, regular office visits are also important to make sure your treatment remains optimized and effective.